Whether it’s your first apartment, your third shared flat this year or a new retreat for the whole family – everyone looking for a home faces the same challenge. The housing market is tight: affordable apartments are in short supply, while rents continue to rise. But nice apartments keep becoming available and old apartment buildings keep being renovated. You should be well prepared for these opportunities in order to stand out from your numerous competitors.

In this article, you will learn 10 tips that you should definitely keep in mind when looking for an apartment.

Before you start actively looking for apartments, you should first think about the basic requirements your dream apartment must meet. Which area is right for you? How big should the apartment be? And how many rooms do you need?

For many people, a decisive criterion is the rent. The 30% rule states that, ideally, the rent should not exceed 30% of your net income. However, you should remain realistic and not set too many exclusion criteria. After all, the supply of apartments is limited, and in most cases the search for the perfect apartment is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

What tenants should determine before looking for an apartment

Checklist for the perfect apartment search.

To convince your future landlord, your first impression has to be spot on. A cover letter in which you add a personal touch in addition to the usual facts will be more memorable than standard phrases. You can also impress your prospective landlord with a personal profile or CV. If possible, ask your current landlord for a certificate of no rent arrears or even a letter of recommendation. In any case, you will need your most recent pay slips and a Schufa credit report.

Rent levels keep rising, making it difficult for many people to find affordable housing. When money gets really tight, there are several forms of state aid that support people on low incomes.

  • The housing entitlement certificate (Wohnberechtigungsschein) confirms that the tenant is entitled to move into an apartment subsidized by public funds. To obtain the certificate, however, the tenant must meet certain criteria. For example, they must not exceed a set income limit. Your local authority will clarify whether you are eligible.
  • Housing benefit is a rent subsidy for households with a low income. The Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building offers an online housing benefit calculator which you can use to check whether you are eligible. You also submit the application for housing benefit to your local authority.

Sunrise over high-rise buildings

People who can no longer afford the rents in their city are entitled to social housing.

There are several everyday methods for finding apartments. For example, some landlords advertise in local newspapers or put up notices around town. So it’s worth keeping your eyes open. Friends or acquaintances may also know who is looking for tenants or where an apartment is about to become available.

If this is too time-consuming for you, you can also turn to more official channels. Tenants can also hire real estate agents to find an apartment, but they charge a commission. By law, the agent’s commission may not exceed two months’ net base rent plus VAT. Another option is to contact property management companies directly. They often have a good overview and can arrange apartments that will soon become available.

In the digital age, the first impulse when looking for a home is to browse online real estate portals. Whether it’s ImmobilienScout24, Immowelt or Kleinanzeigen – there is a wide range on offer. Due to the high demand on the housing market, some real estate portals now even offer premium plans that give searchers an advantage over their competitors. You can also post your own wanted ads instead of just responding to apartment listings.

Perhaps you spend a lot of time on social media anyway – so why not take advantage of the swarm intelligence on Facebook, Instagram and the like? You can announce your apartment search in your status, ask people to share it and then browse groups that have been created specifically for apartment hunting.

Magnifying glass over apartment listings

The search for an apartment is often difficult.

Anyone who is already actively looking for an apartment knows that many landlords are flooded with applications. Listings often state that no further applications are being accepted for the time being or that not every application can be answered.

To be able to react quickly to new apartment listings, it is a good idea to set up a search alert, which can be activated on the real estate portals. You will then receive a push notification in real time whenever there are new listings or changes. This alert allows you to react to listings faster and increases your chances of getting an apartment.

In large cities in particular, the supply of real estate is low compared to demand. If you are looking for a new apartment and cannot find one, swapping apartments or houses can be an attractive alternative. This way, you gain access to properties that are not available on the housing market. The advantage is that both parties can be sure of finding a suitable home.

For this purpose, there are swap agencies specializing in real estate, but some people interested in swapping also advertise on well-known real estate portals themselves. To filter out unsuitable offers in advance, you should list the key details of the apartment you want directly in your ad. If it is a rental property, the landlord must agree to the swap beforehand.

When it finally comes to viewing the apartment, there are a few points to consider in order to determine whether the apartment is really an option. Ideally, schedule the viewing at a time when there is still enough daylight in the apartment so that you can examine it thoroughly. However, the most important criterion is whether you feel comfortable in the neighborhood and in the apartment.

Tips for apartment viewings

Some helpful tips for apartment viewings: Is the apartment on a busy road or railroad line? You own a car, but there is no parking space? You don’t own a car and the nearest supermarket is 5 km away? Have there already been problems with mold in the apartment, or are high heating costs to be expected? If the previous tenant is present during the viewing, you can also ask them about their reasons for moving out. Try to find out as much as possible without being too intrusive.

In some cases, you may have the option – or even be required – to take over certain furniture or appliances from the previous tenant for a fee. If you want to move in with larger furniture of your own, it is best to ask for a floor plan or measure the rooms where you want to place it yourself.

A friendly phone call or a nice cover letter makes a good first impression. But how can you really win landlords over? You can ask your potential landlord in advance which documents they need and bring them with you to the viewing. It goes without saying that you should be on time. If you arrive early, you can explore the neighborhood you would like to live in.

Don’t pretend to be someone else – present yourself authentically. This will give the landlord a better impression of you, and you will come across as both likeable and approachable. Dress neatly, but the same applies here: don’t hide your true self. Try to talk to the landlord during the viewing. Ideally, think about the questions you would like to ask in advance. If you are still interested after the viewing, let the landlord know as soon as possible so that you stand out from other applicants.

Keeping track of everything in the real estate jungle is not that easy. Especially if you are interested in several properties, it is easy to get confused. To avoid forgetting an apartment or accidentally contacting the same one twice, it pays to use a good structure right from the start. The free template from SeaTable is ideal for this.

You can enter your criteria in the template and compare all potential apartments at a glance. In addition to pictures, you can also add the landlords’ contact details and appointments. After a successful viewing, you can write down your impressions so that you don’t forget any details. Good organization will make your apartment search and the final decision for your dream apartment easier.

To use SeaTable, all you need to do is register for free. You can then add the template to your base and add your own data.

TAGS: Everyday Life & Leisure